Container opening means and pull tab therefor or the like



Oct. 1,1968 MOLL E'ETAL 3,403,811

CONTAiNER OPENING MEANS AND PULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed May 31, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 THEIR ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1968 J. L. MOLLER ET AL 3,403,811 CONTAINER OPENING MEANS AND FULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE 7 Filed May 31, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JENS L. MOLLER FREDERIK ASIEMONSEN Y aw, 541

%Zzva THEIR ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1968 J. L. MOLLER ET AL 3,403,811

CONTAINER OPENING MEANS AND FULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed May 51, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJO FIG."

INVENTORS JENS L. MOLLER FREDERIK ASIEMONSEN BY w THEIR ATTORNEYS Get. 1, 1968 MOLLER ET AL 3,403,811

CONTAINER OPENING MEANS AND FULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed May 31, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F I G. JENS L I\ I O IPL E% FREDERIK ASIEMONSEN THEIB ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1968 J, MOLLER ET AL CONTAINER OPENING MEANS AND FULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed May 51, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJQ FlG. 2O

INVENTORS JENS L. MOLLER FREDERIK A.SIEMONSEN flaw, 454,

THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,403,811 CONTAINER OPENING MEANS AND PULL TAB THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Jens L. Moller, Chesterfield County, and Frederik A. Siemonsen, Bon Air, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 553,866 30 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a pull tab opening means for separating at least part of a tear portion from a wall of a container to provide product dispensing means therefor, the pull tab being secured to a rivet portion at one end of the tear portion and having a part for fulcruming against the wall only at a point spaced beyond the end of the tear portion so that fulcruming of the tab means on the fulcrum means causes the fulcrum means of the tab means to raise and separate the end of the tear portion from the wall solely by the fulcrum means pulling outwardly on the fastening means without having any part of the tab means fulcruming against the tear portion to provide the pulling action the fastening means.

This invention relates to an improved pull tab opening means for a container or the like as well as to an improved pull tab for such a container or the like.

It is well known that various beverage containers and the like now have a tear out portion scored in the end closure thereof and readily attached to a pull tab by integral rivet means of the tear out portion. These prior art pull tabs must be raised upwardly to initially sever one end of the tear out portion from the end closure and, thereafter, be pulled away from the end closure to completely sever the tear out portion therefrom.

According to the teachings of this invention an improved pull tab means is provided that cooperates with the end closure of the container in such a manner that a simple fulcruming motion of the pull tab will raise and sever one end of the tear out portion with a minimum of effort, and, thereafter, the tear out portion can be readily separated from the container by the consumer merely inserting a finger in a finger-receiving opening of the pull tab and pulling outwardly on the pull tab to completely sever the tear out portion from the end wall of the container in one easy motion without danger of cut fingers or detachment of the pull tab from the tear out portion before the tear out portion is completely removed from the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved pull tab means for opening a container or the like, the combination of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pull tab for such an opening means or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part there-of and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the improved container of this invention before the tear out portion thereof has been opened.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the method of initially separating one end of the tear out portion of the container of FIGURE 1 with the pull tab means of this invention.

Patented Oct. 1, 1968 FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another step in the opening method of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and is taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and is taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged top view of the improved pull tab of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illustrates how the same pull tab of FIGURE 8 can be utilized with a container having a smaller diameter than the container illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 12.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary top perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 15- 15 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 16-16 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged top plan view of the pull tab means of the embodiment of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 18-18 of FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 19-19 of FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 20-20 of FIGURE 17.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to provide opening means for an end closure of a beverage container or the like, it is to be understood that various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide an opening means for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a cylindrical container body 21 formed of metal, composition board or the like and having the opposed open ends 22 and 23 thereof respectively closed by end closures 24 and 25 in a conventional manner.

In particular, each end closure 24 or 25 is formed metal and has a peripheral bead 26 curled and seamed with the respective end 22 or 23 of the container body 21 in a conventional manner, such as is illustrated in FIGURE 5, to completely seal the end closure 24 or 25 thereby by conventional end closure sealing apparatus.

The top end closure 24 of the container 20 of this invention has a tear out portion 27 formed therein in any desired pattern by scoring the end closure 24 with a continuous score 28 in a conventional manner whereby the tear out portion 27 illustrated in FIGURE 1 has a small end 29 located substantially in the center of the end closure 24 and a larger end 30 extending closely adjacent the seaming head 26.

A pull tab 31 of this invention has a first portion 32 secured to the end 29 of the tear out portion 27 by an integral rivet means 33 of tear out portion 27 in a manner hereinafter described and is integrally interconnected to a fulcruming portion 34 of the pull tab 31.

A third portion 35 of the pull tab 31 is integrally interconnected to the fulcruming portion 34 and cooperates therewith to define a finger'receiving opening 36 in the pull tab 31 for a purpose hereinafter described.

When it is desired to open the container 20 of this invention, the ultimate consumer merely grasps the right end part of the portion 35 of the pull tab 31, such as by inserting a fingernail under the same, and lifts upwardly on the portion 35 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the fulcruming portion 34 of the pull tab 31 fulcrums on the end closure 24 and, thus, raises upwardly the secured portion 32 of the pull tab 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6 so that the end 29 of the tear out portion 27 is separated and raised from the end closure 24 in a simple and easy manner because of the mechanical advantage provided by the pull tab 31.

With the pull tab 31 now disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6, it can readily be seen that the ultimate consumer can insert a finger in the fingerreceiving opening 36 and pull the pull tab 31 outwardly and to the right relative to the end enclosure 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 7 to completely sever the tear out portion 27 from the end wall 24 to produce an opening 37 in the end wall 24 through which the product in the container 20 can be readily dispensed in any desired manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that the end closure 24 of the container 20 of this invention can be readily opened in a simple, effective and safe manner not provided by the prior art pull tab means. In particular, the prior art pull tab means are so constructed and arranged that it is relatively diflicult to initially open part of the tear out portion, and to, thereafter, pull the pull tab to further open the tear out portion without cutting fingers.

The particular details of the pull tab 31 of this invention will now be described and reference is made to FIGURES 81 1.

As illustrated in FIGURES 8-11 the securement portion 32 of the pull tab 31 substantially radiates into the center of the finger-receiving opening 36 and has an aperture 38 passing therethrough, the securement portion 32 being disc-shaped around the aperture 38 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 to reinforce the securement portion 32 around the rivet means 33 on the end wall 24 so that the pull tab 31 cannot be readily torn loose from the rivet 33 during opening of the container 20 in the manner previously described.

In particular, the end 29 of the tear out portion 27 is adapted to be secured to the securing portion 32 of the pull tab 31 by having a cylindrical portion 39 of the tear out portion 27 raised upwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE to be received in the aperture 38 of the pull tab 31 whereby the end 40 of the rivet means 33 can be subsequently flattened against the other side of the securement portion 32 of the pull tab 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 to completely interconnect the pull tab 31 to the tear out portion 27.

Because the rivet means 33 has an arcuate surface 41 interconnecting the cylindrical part 39 thereof to the flat wall of the end closure 24, the aperture 38 formed through the securement portion 32 of the pull tab 31 has a curving surface 42 at the bottom thereof which will closely mate with the curving surface 41 of the cylindrical portion 39 so that as the pull tab 31 is being secured to the tear out portion 27 by the rivet means 33, the pull tab 31 can be disposed fiat against the end closure 24 to permit the rivet means 33 to secure the same thereto without having the rivet means 33 projecting upwardly too great of an extent for the securing operation.

The securement portion 32 of the pull tab 31 joins the 4 fulcruming portion 34 of the pull tab 31 along a juncture line 43 about which the pull tab 31 bends during the initial raising of the pull tab 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6 as the portion 34 fulcrums on the end closure 24 and raises the end 29 of the tear out portion 27. I

In order to insure this bending at the juncture 43 during the fulcruming motion of the pull tab 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6, the juncture 43 of the securernent portion 32 to the fulcruming portion 34 is weakened in any suitable manner. For example, such weakening means for the embodiment of the pull tab 31 illustrated in the drawing is provided by an aperture 44 passing through the juncture 43 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9.

In order to reinforce the fulcruming portion 34 so that the pull tab 31 will bend at the juncture line 43 between the fulcruming portion 34 and the securement portion 32, raised rib means 45 and depressed portions 46 are formed in the fulcruming portion 34 in any suitable manner as illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 11, such as by stamping or the like as will be apparent hereinafter.

The fulcruming portion 34 has an end 47 provided with a downwardly extending wall 48 reversely turned at 49 to define a rounded straight line surface 50 which will fulcrum on the end closure 24 in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the rounded straight line surface 50 of the fulcruming portion 34 of the pull tab 31 is adapted to move along the end wall 24 during the fulcruming movement of the end of the pull tab 31 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 with a minimum of friction between the pull tab 31 and the end closure 24.

The third portion 35 of the pull tab 31 defines a substantially tubular structure 51 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE '9 and joins the fulcruming portion 34 with a substantially inverted U-shaped structure 52 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10 whereby the arcuate portion 35 and fulcruming portion 34 are fully reinforced so that no bending takes place therebetween during the fulcruming movement of the portion 34 on the end closure 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 to insure that bending only takes place at the juncture line 43 between the fulcruming portion 34 and the securement portion 32 to cause the end 29 of the tear out portion 27 to separate and raise from the end closure 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 to initially open the opening 37 in the end closure 24.

Because the tubular portion 35 of the pull tab 31 cooperates with the fulcrum portion 34 of the pull tab 31 to define the finger-receiving opening 36, it can be seen that when a finger is received in the finger-receiving opening 36 to pull the pull tab from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to further open the opening 37, the finger is engaged against the smooth tubular structure 51 so that no sharp edges are provided to cut the finger of the ultimate consumer.

The finger-receiving opening 36 of the pull tab 31 can have any suitable dimension, such as a diameter of approximately of an inch or the like and still be utilized with end closures 24 having larger or smaller diameters from that illustrated in FIGURE 2 without having the pull tab 31 interfere with the seaming operation of the peripheral head 26 thereof to a suitable container body whereas in the prior art pull tab means, the same radiate from the center of the end closure and must have a certain length so that the same can be readily grasped whereby such length dictates the minimum diameter of the end closure 24. However, as illustrated in FIGURE 13, item be seen that a small diameter end closure 24A can be provided and the pull tab 31 of this invention can be formed in the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 2 to permit opening of the tear out portion 27A of the end closure 24A in the manner previously described without reducing the size of the finger-receiving opening 36 thereof while'still permitting the peripheral bead 26A of the end closure 24A to be properly seamed to a container body. A

' Further, because the pull tab 31 of this invention has the securement portion 32 thereof substantially disposed in the center of the pull tab 31, the conventional knockout means of an end closure seaming apparatus pushing the resulting container 20 therefrom will be evenly applied to the pull tab 31 so that the knockout means cannot rotate the pull tab 31 whereas in the prior art extended pull tab means, the knockout means of the seaming apparatus hits the raisedportion of the pull tab and knocks it out of line from the proper position thereof.

As previously stated, the fulcrum portion 34 of the pull tab 31 of this invention has a rounded straight line fulcrum edge 50 to reduce the friction between the pull tab 31 and the end closure 24 during the fulcruming operation. If desired, the end closure 24 can also be provided with a pair of spaced parallel raised ribs 53 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12 so that only point contact is made between the fulcruming portion 34 of the pull tab 31 and the raised ribs 53 of the end closure 24 of FIGURE 12 during the fulcruming motion of the pull tab 31 to further reduce the friction therebetween.

While the pull tab opening means of this invention has been-previously described and illustrated as completely severing the tear out portion 27 from the end closure 24, it is to be understood that-pull tab 31 of this invention could be interconnected in the manner previously described to other types of tear out portions which can be completely removed from the container or merely be partially opened for product dispensing purposes. In addition, while the tear out portion 27 has been previously described as being formed in an end closure of the container 20, it is to be understood that the tear out portion 27 or other types of tear out portions could be provided in other walls of containers or the like with the pull tab 31 of this invention functioning in the manner previously described. I

Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 14-20 and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURES 14-16, another container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 100 and comprises a container body 101 having an end closure 102 closing the upper end thereof, the end closure 102 having a tear out portion 103 defined by a continuous score 104 in the end wall surface 105 of the end closure 102 in substantially the same manner as the tear out portion 27 previously described.

A pull tab means 106 of this invention is interconnected to the inner end 107 of the tear out portion 103 by the previously described rivet fastening means 108 whereby the pull tab means 106 operates in the same manner as the pull tab means 31 previously described for opening the container 100 of this invention.

However, it should be noted that the pull tab means 106 illustrated in FIGURES 14-20 is slightly changed from the pull tab means 31 previously described in order to facilitate its operation with the particular end Wall means 105 ofthe container 101.

In particular, it can be seen in FIGURES 15 and 16 that the end wall means 105 of the container 100 is substantially dome-shaped in cross section with the convex side thereof facing upwardly, the dome-shaped end surface 105 having a recess'means109 formed therein and substantially surrounding the inner end 107 of the tear out portion 103. The recess means 109 also defines a pair of rib-like legs 110 spaced from and conforming to the shape of the tear out portion 103 as the ribs 110 approach the outer periphery of the end wall means 105.

In this manner, the pull tab means 106 of this invention can be substantially disposed in the recess means 109 to not only permit the same to be substantially protected from damage during shipping,gstoring and merchandising of the container 100, but also to permit the containers .6 of this invention to be nested in stacked relation without interference from the pull tab means 106.

If desired, even the surface of the end wall in the recess 109 can be substantially dome-shaped with-the convex side thereof facing upwardly, the pull tab means 106 of this invention fully conforming to such dome shape in the recess 109 as will be apparent hereinafter. However, the surface in the recess 109 may be fiat, if desired.

The particular details of the pull tab means 106 of this invention will now be described and reference is made to FIGURES 17-20.

As illustrated in FIGURES 17-20, the pull tab means 106 includes a first portion 111 having an opening 112 passing therethrough for securement to the rivet fastening means 108 of the container 100 in substantially the same manner as the fastening portion 32 of the pull tab means 31 previously described. The first portion 111 of the pull tab means 106 is integrally interconnected to a second portion 113 adapted to have its forward edge means 114 fulcrumed on the end wall means 105 in the manner previously described, the first portion 111 and second portion 113 being disposed in stepped relation defined by a pair of parallel and spaced bend lines 115 and 116 to permit the first portion 111 to be disposed closely adjacent the end wall means 105 in the recess 109 in the manner fully illustrated in FIGURE 16. In addition, the fulcruming action of the pull tab means 106 is further facilitated by an opening 117 passing centrally through the bend line 115 to substantially weaken the bend line 115 in the same manner as the opening 44 for the pull tab means 31 previously described.

A ring-like third portion 118 is integrally interconnected to the fulcrum portion 113 in much the same manner as the ring portion 35 of the pull tab means 31 and is adapted to substantially surround the securement portion 111.

The ring-like portion 118 of the pull tab 106 is substantially circular in cross section as illustrated in FIG- URE 13 and cooperates with the second portion 113 to define substantially rounded or arcuate fulcruming edge means 115 to reduce friction against the end wall means 105 during the fulcrum opening movement of the pull tab means 106. As illustrated in FIGURE 20, it can be seen that the ring-like means 118 and fulcrum portion 113 of the pull ta-b means 106 have a substantially inverted U- shaped cross-sectional configuration for reinforcement thereof in substantially the same manner as the pull tab means 31.

When the pull tab means 106 of this invention is to be utilized in combination with a dome-shaped recess means 109 of the container 100, it can readily be seen in FIG- -UR E 18 that the securement portion 111 is disposed intermediate the upper and lower surfaces of the ring-like portion 118 to permit the ring-like portion 118 to be fully received in the recess 109 of the end wall means 105 While still having the securement portion 111 disposed snugly thereagainst in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 18.

In addition, the opening 112 in the securement portion 111 has an arcuate lower surface 113 to conform to the arcuate surface 120 on the rivet means 108 in the manner previously described for the pull tab means 31.

While directions are normally imprinted on the end wall means 105 to guide the ultimate consumer in opening the container 100 by first grasping the ring portion 118 of the pull tab means 106 and lifting upwardly thereon to fulcrum the edge means 114 against the end wall means 105 and initially raise and sever the end 107 of the pull tab means 103 from the end Wall means 105 so that the user can insert his finger in the opening means 121 and pull upwardly and outwardly in the direction of the larger end of the tear out portion 103 in substantially the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it may be found that a person after initially fulcruming the pull tab means 106 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 will attempt to pull in a direction away from the larger end of the tear out portion 103 so that the securement portion 112 will tend to separate from the rivet 108.

Accordingly, the securement portion 111 of the pull tab means 103 has a turned up flange 121 substantially surrounding the opening 112 in the manner illustrated in the drawings to fully reinforce the securement portion 111 so that the same cannot be readily torn from the rivet means 108. Such shaping of the securement portion 111 of the pull tab means 106 has also been previously described in connection with the pull tab means 31 for this same purpose.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved opening means for a container or the like, but also this invention provides an improved pull tab for such opening means or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container having a wall, said wall having a tear portion provided with an end, said end of said tear portion carrying fastening means, and a pull tab means secured to said fastening means of said end of said tear portion, said tab means having a fulcrum means for only bearing against said wall at a point spaced beyond said end of said tear portion so that fulcruming of said tab means on said fulcrum means causes said fulcrum means of said tab means to raise and initially separate said end of said tear portion from said wall solely by said fulcrum means pulling outwardly on said fastening means without having any part of said tab means fulcruming against said tear portion to provide said pulling action on said fastening means.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull tab means has a finger-receiving opening passing therethrough to facilitate further pulling of said tear portion relative to said wall after said wall had been initially opened.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull tab means has a lifting end therefor disposed on the side of said end opposite to the side of said end where said fulcrum means is located.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull tab means has a first portion secured to said end of said tear portion by said fastening means, said tab means having a second port-ion joined to said first portion and providing said fulcrum means for bearing against said wall at said point spaced beyond said end of said tear portion so that fulcruming of said tab means on said fulcrum means causes said tab means to raise and separate said end of said tear portion from said wall while said tab means bends at the juncture of said first and second portions thereof.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tab means is weakened at said juncture of said first and second portions thereof to facilitate bending thereof.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tab means has opening means passing through said juncture of said first and second portions of said tab means to weaken said juncture for bending thereof.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first portion of said tab means has a dished area substantially surrounding said fastening means to reinforce said first portion of said tab means.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fastening means comprises a rivet means having a reduced cylindrical portion and an enlarged head, said first portion of said tab means having an opening telescopically receiving said reduced cylindrical portion and being held to said wall by said enlarged head.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said dished area has the concave side thereof facing toward said enlarged head of said rivet means. U

10. A combination as setforth in claim 8 wherein said cylindrical portion joins said wall with a curving surface, said portion of said tab means having a curving surface adjacent said opening to mate. with said curving surface of said cylindrical portion. v

11. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pull tab means has a third portion interconnected to said second portion and definingafinger-receiving opening substantially surrounding said. secured first portion of said pull tab means whereby movement of said pull tab means relative to said wall separates said tear portion from said Wall by having said second portion of said pull tab means fulcrum on said wall.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said Wall has a recess means provided thereimsaid pull tab means being received in said recess means.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said wall has a substantially dome shape. I

14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said wall has a substantially dome shape in said, recess means.

15. A pull tab means fora tear portion in a wall of a container or the like, said tab means having a first portion adapted to be secured to one end of said tear portion by a fastening means of said end of said tear portion and having a second portion defining a fulcrum means of said tab means adapted to fulcrum on said wall only at a point spaced beyond said end of said tear portion during movement of said tab means relative to said wall to raise and initial separate said end of said tear portion, from said wall solely by said fulcrum means pulling outwardly on said fastening means without having any part of said tab means fulcruming against said tear portion to provide said pulling action on said fastening means.

16. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tab means hasv a finger-receiving opening passing therethrough to facilitate further pulling of said tear portion relatice to said wall after said wall has been initially opened.

17. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tab means has a lifting end therefor adapted to be disposed on the side of said end of said tear portion opposite to the side of said end where said second portion will fulcrum on said wall.

18. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tab means is so constructed and-arranged that the same will bend at the juncture of said first and second portions thereof during said fulcruming movement of said pull tab means.

19. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab means is weakened at said juncture of said first and second portions thereof to facilitate bending thereof.

20. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab means has opening means passing through said juncture of said first and second portions of said tab means to weaken said juncture for bending thereof.

'21. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first portion of said tab means has a dished area for substantially surrounding said fastening means to reinforce said first portion of said tab'means.

22. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 21 wherein said fastening means comprises a rivet means having a reduced cylindrical portion and an enlarged head, said first portion of said tab means having an opening to telescopically receive said reduced cylindrical portion to be held to said wall by said enlarged head.

23. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 22 wherein said dished area has the,concave side thereof adapted to face toward said enlarged head of said rivet means.

24. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 22 wherein said cylindrical portion joins said wall with a curving surface, said first portion of said tab means having a curving surface adjacent said opening to mate with said curving surface of said cylindrical portion.

25. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tab means has a third portion defining a finger-receiving opening substantially surrounding said first portion.

26. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 25 wherein said second portion of said tab means is provided with stiffening means.

27. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 25 wherein said third portion of said tab means generally has a circular cross-sectional configuration.

28. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 25 wherein the juncture of said third and second portions of said tab means has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

29. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 25 wherein said second portion of said tab means has a turned edge means for providing a rounded surface to engage said wall with a minimum of friction during fulcruming of said second portion on said wall.

30. A pull tab means as set forth in claim 25 wherein said second portion is disposed intermediate the upper and lower surfaces of said third portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,085,200 6/1937 Ljungstrorn 22()54 3,232,474 2/1966 Dunn 22054 3,322,296 5/1967 Khoury 220- 54 3,337,085 8/1967 Bozek 220 54 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner,

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

